Te Puni's was most recent role was the Marketing and Commercial Director: Stamps, Coins and REAL Aotearoa for the New Zealand Post Group. He previously spent eight years as General Manager Maori at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. He has an MBA from Victoria University and his core skills include strategic leadership, commercial development and marketing, stakeholder and relationship management and operational and change leadership. His work history includes considerable time working in the wider Hurricanes region, including stints in Taranaki and the Manawatu.
The former Tawa tighthead prop has extensive Wellington club rugby experience, having managed Wellington B and Wellington Maori, as well as Tawa Premiers for four seasons. He served on the WRFU Rugby Board between 1999 and 2002 and was also Chair of the WRFU Representative Rugby Sub-committee and Chairman of Wellington Maori Rugby.
Wellington Rugby Chairman Tony Duffin was thrilled with the appointment. "I am delighted with the recruitment of James, who will bring to the role considerable commercial expertise and experience of the club and representative game here in Wellington. It has been an extensive search process to identify the right person for this crucial position and I am convinced that under his leadership we will be able to grow and develop every aspect of our business, in order to fulfill our vision of becoming the most successful provincial union in the world.
"We look forward to James joining us once he has fulfilled his commitments with New Zealand Post and in the meantime our experienced management team will continue their excellent work in holding the fort."
Te Puni said: "I am very excited to be joining Wellington Rugby in the most important year in New Zealand rugby's history. With the outstanding talent we have in the province on and off the field and some great commercial partners, I look forward to working with the team to take the organisation to the next level. 2011 presents a huge opportunity for everyone associated with the game in this country and I will be looking to ensure that we maximise the benefits for Wellington and the Hurricanes in the future."